BUNIONS & BALANCE
Bunions & Balance is Dance Alive’s innovative solution to the world of adult dance conditioning! Dancers use their feet A LOT and unfortunately, our feet do not get the best treatment in the outside world. Things like cheap shoes, excessive arch support, orthotics, frequent sitting, and artificial urban surfaces end up reducing the strength and mobility of our feet over our lifetime, which can lead to chronic foot issues like bunions, plantar fasciitis, and weak arches. Did you know many of these conditions are treatable with plain old movement?? This class teaches students how to hold their bodies for proper movement mechanics (the Balance), and leads students through a progressive leg & foot strengthening protocol to improve foot health & dance ability (the Bunions!). While it is designed for dancers, anyone with an interest in foot and ankle wellness is welcome to join. The exercises are simple & easy to follow, and can be practiced easily at home for lifestyle integration!
Pre-Pointe Training
If you’re interested in dancing on Pointe someday, this class is where you start. Pre-Pointe training can take up to 1 year before being ready for Pointe shoes, so please be patient. This class is designed for progressive training but still Drop-In Friendly, so goals for Pointe training will be assessed as progression occurs. While students can join Bunions & Balance at any time, those wanting to get on Pointe must join in September in order to be considered for their first Pointe Shoe Fitting the following March/April.
Some late registrations to Pre-Pointe Training may be accepted in special cases. Specific timing for Pointe Shoe Fittings is tailored to each group – timelines may vary.
TAKE A CLASS
We have 2 Weekly Classes for Bunions & Balance, with some more options to explore if the time doesn’t work or if you want to customize your training:
| BUNIONS & BALANCE |
|---|
| Open to Absolute Beginners to dance and movement |
| Excellent for dancers of all levels & styles who want to improve or maintain foot functionality and posture control |
| A great supplement for experienced dancers wanting some extra support and strengthening for feet, ankles, and knees |
| Anyone can join at any time! |
Bunions & Balance also follows an approximate annual schedule in order to work through all the important elements of body awareness & foot strengthening:
| Sep – Oct | Foot Foundations & Posture Awareness |
| Nov – Dec | Pilates & Progressive Ballet Technique |
| Jan – Mar | Pre-Pointe Work & Pointe Readiness |
| Apr – Jun | Playing with Props & Course Summary |
| RELATED OPTIONS |
|---|
| For more fitness conditioning & flexibility training, check out Body Break |
| Join our Pointe classes on demi-pointe for extra foot strengthening and posture practice! |
| Customize your experience with our Private Lessons! |
PREPARE FOR CLASS
The Basics
- No large hanging jewelry
- No chewing gum
- Avoid strong fragrances
- No food or drink in the studio, other than water (in the lounge is fine)
- Bring a water bottle!
First Time?
Don’t go out and buy anything yet! All styles of dance can very easily be done in comfortable work-out clothes and socks or bare feet. Once you’ve decided you want to commit to the class, you can purchase the relevant dancewear (see below).
Where to Buy
Dance Street is the only dancewear distributor in Saskatoon, but they have two locations – one east side, and one downtown. We strongly recommend you visit the eastside location, off of 8th Street, as they have the best selection. Check out their website for more details. If you’re unsure about what to buy, they will help you! Just show them the lists laid out below, and they will get you exactly what you need.
*Dance Alive Studios is slowly building our own store of dance attire that is size-inclusive, accessible, and comfortable (some products available online, some in-studio). Feel free to contact us with specific requests to see what we have in store, and visit our DAS Store for products we’re currently selling.
*REGARDING GENDER*
Attire in the dance world, specifically Ballet, can be inherently gendered. The attire listed for each style is given in terms of “feminine” and “masculine” suggestions when appropriate. Students are welcome to choose whatever combination of attire they feel comfortable in.
HAIR
Anything that is loosely out of the face
CLOTHES
Anything comfortable and easy to move in, preferably tight-fitting (see Ballet Attire if you prefer to dress for Pointe!)
SHOES
Bare feet or socks are encouraged to allow full range of movement of the feet;
Soft ballet slippers can be worn if preferred